what did you wrench on today??

[williamcryan]

Very nicely done.

[Mr.humbucker]

Last summer my friend and I did our annual ride on my 2 GS550Ts. The one he was riding started blowing fuses after a long hot run. It has about 35k on it and I figured the electrical system was due for an overhaul as it was all original stock. I did some measures of the voltage outputs and it seemed weak so I bit the bullet and picked up a new stator from RM Stator and a SH775 on eBay for each along with the harness from Eastern Beaver. Rounded the upgrade out by buying new batteries for each.

The stator r/r went well on the first bike as did the mounting and wiring of the SH775. Within two hours of starting the job was done! I soldered the red wire but used bullet connectors for the rest. Voltage tests showed a marked improvement and the numbers were right where they needed to be. She ran like a top for the "test" drive 👌🏻

The second bike proved move difficult as I was unable to losen and remove any of the startor cover screws. I used a JIS screw driver and impact screw driver but no luck, they were not coming out. If there is a trick out there someone can share with me before I strip the heads I would appreciate it. I left the stator in and went on and installed the SH775 and soldered all the connections this time. Once again the voltage checks came in great! So, over all I am happy and much more confident that these old steads will be good to go for out annual ride in two weeks. I just hope the weather cooperates!

The bottom line here is I am VERY glad I spent a few bucks and did this as now I have much less of an electrical problem this time out! However I now have an unrelated oil leak from the valve cover gasket on the first bike that is drainin on to the engine and causing her to smoke as the oil burns off ... seems to never end with these old bikes ... but that is ok as I learn more with each chllenge. Ordered a new gasket tonight ... so that's the next job on the shop agenda.

[Guest]

Very Nice Simon.

Nice mounting of that stuff. And I like that is pretty mch the GK paint pattern on the sidebags and trunk, but with the S color & accent stripe.

.

Thanks for the comment Mr Redman .
Mr Steve sent me a pic of another member's 1100 ES with a similar paint job that was the inspiration .
I was really happy with the paint , not so much with the price .
There was also a bit of jiggery pokery to get it all fitted up but all worth it in the end .

Cheers , Simon .

[Guest]

Simon..... that is a lot of luggage capacity on the back of that bike. All the added pieces, combined with whatever stuff you pack into them, plus a passenger, put quite a lot of extra weight on the back end of the bike. Have you up-rated the rear shocks/springs to handle it?

[Guest]

Simon..... that is a lot of luggage capacity on the back of that bike. All the added pieces, combined with whatever stuff you pack into them, plus a passenger, put quite a lot of extra weight on the back end of the bike. Have you up-rated the rear shocks/springs to handle it?

Yes I have .
I've put a set of Ikon's on and upped the preload .
I'll probably have to fiddle with it when I get all loaded up .
Any heavy stuff will go in the bottom of the panniers with " fluff " in the top box .

Cheers , Simon

[Boriqua]

Had to do the dreaded carb removal and clean this weekend. Dreaded for me anyway. Seemed easier than I remembered. Didnt have to dip, just shoot some spray around because my idle was suffering. Now it hums perfectly. Still took me 4 hours though.

[Guest]

not really wrenching, but I put the first dose of star-tron in the tank to prep for hibernation. The older I get the less motivation I have for riding in the cold....

[Nessism]

Not wrenching either but in the garage finishing this...

P1040123 by nessism, on Flickr

P1040129 by nessism, on Flickr

P1040127 by nessism, on Flickr

P1040126 by nessism, on Flickr

[Guest]

Not wrenching either but in the garage finishing this...

P1040123 by nessism, on Flickr

P1040129 by nessism, on Flickr

P1040127 by nessism, on Flickr

P1040126 by nessism, on Flickr

Nice! I have a neighbor who just this summer restore an old Peugeot bicycle, and it's a beauty.

[Dogma]

What say you. GS1000S/GK .

Looks good, except maybe for the big white view from the rear. Mine doesn't look that big, so I think that camera's adding the usual 10 pounds. Did you have the brackets powder coated? I need to do something with mine before the rust gets serious.

[Steve]

Did you have the brackets powder coated? I need to do something with mine before the rust gets serious.

I asked him the same thing in a PM, have not gotten a reply yet.

I need to check at the powder-coating shop to see if they have a chrome-ish powder coat. The ceramic coat on the exhaust pipes would do, but I think it costs more. I looked into having the racks re-chromed and had some SERIOUS sticker shock. Just the top rack was going to be about $700. I didn't bother to ask about the lower half of the mounting system.

.

[Steve]

I asked him the same thing in a PM, have not gotten a reply yet.

As luck would have it, when I pushed the "Submit post" button, I got a reply from Simon.

He said that the nearest chromeworks is about 1500km away, so he sandblasted and used 2-part paint for the mounts.

.

[Guest]

Looks good, except maybe for the big white view from the rear. Mine doesn't look that big, so I think that camera's adding the usual 10 pounds. Did you have the brackets powder coated? I need to do something with mine before the rust gets serious.

Hey Dale , you sayin' my arse looks big in this ????

Cheers , Simon .

[rustybronco]

Nice! I have a neighbor who just this summer restore an old Peugeot bicycle, and it's a beauty.

'Cept his isn't a restoration.

[Guest]

Titanium? Looks too dull for steel or aluminum. Nice lugs.